Glenwood City girls basketball looks to create winning tradition under new coach

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GLENWOOD CITY — A new girls’ basketball season is about to begin and Glenwood City has a new head coach.

The Hilltopper girls are not new to change or transition as the program has had six head coaches over the past ten seasons.

But, Glenwood City High School alum, Ryan Tiberg, looks to bring stability to the ladies’ program and re-establish a winning tradition.

Tiberg, who takes the reigns from fellow Glenwood City graduate Kirsten Konder who led the girls the previous two seasons, is not new to coaching girls’ programs or success. He served as the head coach at Washburn for three years and at South Shore the past ten years. He won five Northern Lights (formerly Indianhead) Conference championships over that span including more than a half dozen WIAA regional crowns, a sectional title, and state tournament appearance in 2015.

Tiberg, who returns to his hometown sporting a career varsity high school girls’ coaching record of 280-74, would like nothing more than to restore the luster to the Toppers’ hardwood program.

Glenwood City, who finished 5-19 overall last season which included a 3-11 campaign in the Dunn-St. Croix, its most victories since finishing 8-15 in 2020-21, lost just one player to graduation this past spring, point guard Libby Wagner.

Although Glenwood City did not have any all-conference performers last season, several key players return to this year’s squad including its top two scorers and rebounders – lone senior Isabel “Izzy” Davis and sophomore Tori Ohman. Davis, the Topper’s main post player, averaged nine points per game (ppg) and an equal number of rebounds while Ohman, a guard, finished with an eight points per game average to go along with seven boards.

Juniors Opal Voeltz, Kaylin Brandt and Anaka Eliason made sound contributions a season ago. Voeltz and Eliason played the guard position while Brandt was a forward.

Looking to add potential and talent to the 2024-25 team are juniors Kyra Flick, Lillie McGee and Ava Multhauf and sophomores Kirah Krueger and Morgan Knops. With the exception of Flick and McGee who are slotted as forwards, the other four play at the guard position.

The Toppers also added five freshmen to this year’s roster.

“I am getting to know the players and team,” noted Tiberg.

In his early-season assessment, Tiberg has tabbed the team’s energy, rebounding and coachability as strengths, but realizes its lack of experience will be a weakness this season.

Tiberg has taken a long-term view in re-building the program.

“This year’s team goals are not centered around statistics, but instead installing a new vision for the program and building from the youth up through the varsity and improving each and every day,” the coach wrote in his response to the Tribune Press Reporter’s pre-season questionnaire.

“Having fun playing this great sport and working hard each day to see the vision take shape,” he added.

Tiberg has tabbed two-time defending champion Elk Mound, who will play its final season in the Dunn-St. Croix before moving to the Cloverbelt in all sports next year, and Durand-Arkansaw as the top contenders for this year’s conference crown.

“Elk Mound has the player of the year (Ellie Schiszik) and Durand returns five all-conference players,” stated Tiberg.

Samantha Johnson returns as the junior varsity and assistant coach. Tiberg will also be assisted by volunteer coaches Emily Montgomery and Amanda Larson. Ella Anderson, Emilyn Hoffman and Jaycie Oberle will be the team’s managers.

Glenwood City tips off its season this Thursday, November 21 when it hosts Washburn for a non-conference match up.